Canadian Split Pea Soup

Name: Canadian Split Pea Soup
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 105 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Canada
Ingredients: 1 meaty ham bone or smoked ham hock; 2 cups dried green split peas, rinsed; 1 onion, diced; 2 carrots, diced; 2 celery stalks, diced; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 8 cups water or chicken stock; 1 bay leaf; Salt and black pepper, to taste

6 servings15 min prep90 min cookEasy Canada

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The Story Behind It

The Tale of Canadian Split Pea Soup

Story updated September 17, 2026

Split pea soup, or soupe aux pois, comes from French-Canadian habitant cooking traditions dating to the colonial era, when dried peas simmered with salt pork or ham hock made an inexpensive, warming meal through long winters. It remains a hearty staple of Quebecois home cooking today.

Ingredients

Scale:· 6 servings

1 meaty ham bone or smoked ham hock
2 cups dried green split peas, rinsed
1 onion, diced
2 carrots, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
8 cups water or chicken stock
1 bay leaf
Salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions

1Combine the ham bone, split peas, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, water, and bay leaf in a large pot.
2Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer partially covered for 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
3Remove the ham bone, shred any meat from it, and discard the bone and bay leaf.
4Return the shredded meat to the pot.
5Blend part of the soup for a creamier texture, if desired, then stir back together.
6Season with salt and pepper and serve hot.

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